Cash-register



R. M. HUNTER.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

CASH REGISTER.

(No Model.)

No. 521,931. Patented June 26, 1894.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. M. HUNTER.

CASH REGISTER.

No. 521,931. Patented June 26,1894.

'IIII AH $46M FIG. 2.

U ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 521,931, dated June 26,1894.

' Application filed August 14, 1893- $erial No. 483,052. (Nomoclel-l Toall? whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia andState of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inGasl1-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention has reference to cash registers, and consists of certainimprovements which are fully set forth in the following specificationand shown in the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof.

This application, Case No. 263, comprehends certain improvements in aclass of cash registering machines adapted to be operated by a clerk anda cashier in making a single registry or record of a sale and in whichthe v clerk has no control of the cash drawer, and on the other hand thecashier has no control of the keys except as maybe dictated by theclerk.

The object of my improved machine is to provide a cash register which isto be jointly operated by a clerk in a store and also by the cashier towhom the money is paid. In machines asheretofore designed, the cashdrawer has been under the control of the cashier only, and was adaptedto be opened by the operation of any one key. In case the machine waswhere it could be reached through the cash window, and the cashier wasabsent, a key might be depressed and the drawer robbed. With my presentmachine all danger from sources of theft are amply provided against, andthe cashier cannot under any circumstances operate the machine torelease the drawer except when the clerk has operated the key forindicating the amount of the sale. The advantage of the machine will bebetter understood after a description of its construction is given.

In carrying out myinventionI may employ a large variety of details andutilize to a considerable extent the forms of cash registers which havebeen heretofore placed on the market, modifying or adding to them to theextent required for the proper carrying out of myinvention.

My improvement more essentially consists of one complete cash registersuch as is well known upon the market, but which is not designed toliberate a cash drawer, combined with a second portion having anadditional set of keys adapted to be locked or liberated by the movementof the corresponding keys in the first mentioned part or cash register,and in which the second set of keys operate to release a cash drawerunder the control of the cashier. The operation of either or both setsof keys may sound an alarm as is customary in cash registers. The cashdrawer must be closed to enable theclerk to operate a key thuspreventingcareless leaving of the drawer open.

I do not confine myself to any special details of'construction as thesemay be greatly modified as will readily be understood by any one skilledin the art to which the invention appertains.

The accompanying Figurel isa vertical side sectional elevation of a cashregister embodying my improvements and Fig. 2 is a similar view with thekeys depressed.

The keys A operate the register wheels B and the indicator rods 0 whichraise the indicators G into view through the glass windows a" in theordinary manner of any cash register machine. The lugs c of the rods 0catch upon the support D when the indicator rods are raised. A frame Ecommon to all of the keys Ais adapted to operate the pivoted support Dso as to release the indicator rods and indicators 0 each time a new keyis op erated substantially in the manner of the cash registers as now inuse.

The operation of the pivoted support D from the frame E common to all ofthe keys A is performed through the media of the lever F which ispivoted to the main frame WV and has its lower end in position to beoper ated on by the said frame E, and its upper end provided with aspring pawlf adapted to strike the lower end of the pivoted supportingframe D so as to move it in one direction and not in the other. hen theframe E is raised it will be seen that the upper part of frame D will bemoved away from the indicator rods to liberate any indicator rod 0 whichmay have been previously supported, and also to permit the passage ofthe lug c of the rod 0 being raised by the key A last operated. A springresets the support D to hold the rod or rods last raised. This mechanismmay be substantially of the character illustrated in Letters Patent No.271,363, dated January 30, 1888.

The keys A are directed into the store where the clerks sell the goods,and are operated only by the clerks. A second set of keys G extend inthe opposite direction from the keys A of the machine and are arrangedwithin the cashiers desk or compartment and are operated only by thecashier. This second set of keys G may, if desired, operate a totaladding register H of any suitable or well known construction which shallbe a check upon the registers B, absolutely requiring the registrationsof the cashier and clerks to balance, and also for the purpose ofenabling the total amount of sales at any time during the day to bereadily ascertained. There are as many keys G as there are keys A, andthe lower part of each key G is provided with a part L which will strikethe end of the key A unless the rear end thereof is elevated. It willthus be seen that the keys G are all looked against movement except whenthe keys A are operated, and in that event only the keys G correspondingto the keys A operated are movable. This absolutely requires the cashierto depress the proper keys. When the key A is depressed the rear end israised and catches upon the dog S and is locked in its raised positionthereby. The dog S moves to the left the moment the frame E is lifted byany of the keys A, for then the frame J is pulled to the left by thespring j. The dog S necessitates that the key A shall be raised its fullheight for it cannot be lowered until one of the keys G has been broughtinto operation. WVhen the rear end of any key A is raised, thecorresponding key G is depressed by the cashier, and said actiondepresses the frame I common ,to all of the keys G, putting the spring Iunder tension and depressing the pivoted spring bolt 0, therebyreleasing the latch T, and permitting the spring N to force the cashdrawer M open. The instant the drawer opens, the dog S oscillates andfirmly locks the rear elevated end of the key A. It will now be observedthat the key A is locked and the frame E is elevated and no other keycan be elevated because the part J of the frame J has moved to the leftso as to be slightly over the rear ends of the keys A which have notbeen moved. The machine is again set in operative condition simply bythe cashier closing the drawer. When the drawer is pushed in, its latchsnaps back of the spring bolt or catch 0 and is again locked. In movingbackward the lug T of the drawer strikes the slide bar P and moves thedog R to the left under the lower end of the bell crank lever, therebythrowing back the pivoted frame J and the dog S, which latter strikingthe oblique face of the latch T quickly liberates the keys A which werefirmly locked in their raised condition, allowing them to resetthemselves into the position shown in the drawings, and the machine isonce more ready for a further operation. WVhen the frame J has beenmoved backward by the pivoted lever K the frame E is lowered in front ofit and prevents it returning thereby releasing all of the keys A. Iffrom any cause the drawer should be opened without moving the keys, theslide bar P will move to the right and the catch 19 will lock the hook e011 the frame E and thereby look all of the levers A and through themall of the levers G. These parts 1), e may be dispensed with if desired.

From this construction of machine it is evident that absolute collusionbetween the cash ier and clerk would be necessary to enable theft, andthen in so doing it would be necessary to ring up the wrong amount, andthis would at once be indicated by the indicators.

The operation of anykey of either set may be required to sound an alarmupon a bell U by the operation of the hammer V or V operated by suitabletrip devices from the respective frames I and E, which are respectivelycommon to all of the keys G and A. The frame E may operate the hammer Vthrough the frame D, or by an additional frame F which directly operatesupon the hammer in the manner set out in the aforesaid Letters Patent.The frame I has a pivoted spring pawl i which directly operates upon thebell hammer V as will be readily understood, so that when any key G isdepressed, the hammer V is operated.

A person entering the cashiers compartment with the intent of theftcould not by any manipulation of the keys G open the drawer. Toaccomplish this object he would first have to go around to the outsideand depress the necessary key which would cause an alarm to be sounded;he would then have to go to the inside of the compartment and depress aparticular one of the keys G which would take time and besides wouldcause a second alarm to be sounded before he could get the drawer open.This is an important precaution in case of the temporary absence of thecashier, or where the cashier is required to perform other duties thanthat of receiving the money, and where it is desired that the clerksshall not have access to the cash drawer. I

It will be understood that the various parts illustrated may be greatlyvaried in shape or detail as the invention is not confined to theseminor points, but comprehends broadly a machine of the class hereindescribed in which the two sets of keys are required, one set beinglocked or liberated by the operation of the other set.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, and means under control ofthe second set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer.

2. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, and aspring to force the drawer open when released.

3. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, a latch tolook all of the first mentioned set of keys when any one of them hasbeen operated, and releasing devices under the control of the second setof keys to operate said latch to release all of the said first mentionedkeys.

4. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, a latch tolook all of the first mentioned set of keys when any one of them hasbeen operated, releasing devices under the control of the second set ofkeys to operate said latch to release all of the said first mentionedkeys, and connecting devices between the cash drawer and latch device toprevent the releasing of the first mentioned keys until the cash draweris locked.

5. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, andregistering devices for registering the amount of the sales by theoperation of the keys.

6. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, a springto force the drawer open when released, and registering devices forregistering the amount of sales by the operation of the keys.

7. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any of thefirst set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, a latch tolook all of the first mentioned set of keys when any one of them hasbeen operated, releasing devices under the control of the second set ofkeys to operate said latch to release all of the said first mentionedkeys, and registering devices for registering the amount of the sales bythe operation of the keys.

8. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, a latch tolook all of the first mentioned set of keys when any one of them hasbeen operated, releasing devices under the control of the second set ofkeys to operate said latch to release all of the said first mentionedkeys, connecting devices between the cash drawer and the latch device toprevent the releasing of the first mentioned keys until the cash draweris locked, and registering devices for registering the amount of thesales by theoperation of the keys.

9. I11 a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keyslocked against movement by the first set of keys except when any key ofthe first set is moved to expose its indicator, a cash drawer, a lock tohold said cash drawer in a closed position, means under control of thesecond set of keys to operate the lock to release the drawer, andseparate registering devices under the control of each set of keys.

10. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keysadapted to be moved independently of the first set or series of keys themovement of which is controlled by the first set of keys, andregistering mechanism operated by the operation of said keys.

11. In a cash register, the combination ofa series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keysadapted to be moved independently of the first set or series of keys,the movement of which is controlled by the first set of keys,registering mechanism operated by the operation of said keys, and analarm adapted to be sounded upon the operation of any key."

12. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keysadapted to be moved independently of the first set or series of keys themovement of which is controlled by the first set of keys, registeringmechanism operated by the operation of said keys, alarm devices andmechanism controlled by each set of keys whereby the operation of anykey of either set will sound an alarm.

13. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of keys themovement of which is controlled by the first set of keys, registeringmechanism operated by the operation of said keys, a cash drawercontrolled by the operation of the said keys, and a lock controlled bythe cash drawer to lock the first mentioned set of keys when the cashdrawer is open.

14. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicators adapted to be operated by said keys, a second set of seriesof keys, a series of indicating devices adapted to be operated by thesaid keys, a

keys the movement of which is controlled by the first set of keys,registering mechanism operated by the movement of said keys, andlatching devices controlled by the operation of the said keys forlocking the keys of the first set which have not been actuated againstmovement and to lock the keys of the first set which have been operatedin their moved position.

15. In a cash register, the combination of a j 1 one set of keys,indicating and registering devices operated by the said keys, a secondset of keys pointing in the oppositedirection to the first mentionedset, a cash drawer in connection with the second set of keys, a lock toseries of keys, a series of indicators adapted to be operated by saidkeys, a second set of keys the movement of which is controlled by thefirst set of keys, registering mechanism operated by the movement ofsaid keys, latching devices controlled by the operation of the said keysfor locking the keys of the first set which have not been actuatedagainst movement and to lock the keys of the first set which have beenoperated in their moved position, a cash drawer and devices controlledby the cash drawer for resetting the latching devices for the purpose ofliberating the first set of keys.

16. In a cash register, thecombination of a set of keys, mechanismoperated thereby for registering or indicating the amount of the sales,a cash drawer,a lock for holding the cash drawer in a locked position,hand operated devices for operating the lock controlled by the movementof any of the first mentioned keys, and registering devices operated bythe devices for operating the lock.

17. In a cash register, the combination of a set of keys a cash drawer,a lock for holding the cash drawer in a locked position, hand operateddevices for operating the lock controlled by the movement of any of thefirst mentioned keys, and registering devices operated by the devicesfor operating the lock.

18. In a cash register, the combination of a set of keys a cash drawer,a lock for holding the cash drawer in a locked position, hand operateddevices for operating the lock controlled by the movement of the firstmentioned keys, registering devices operated by the devices foroperating the lock, and alarm mechanism operated by the movement of thekeys.

19. In a cash register, the combination of a set of keys a cash drawer,a lock for holding the cash drawer in a locked position, hand operateddevices for operating the lock controlled by the movement of any of thefirst mentioned keys, registering devices operated by the devices foroperating the lock, and indicating devices adapted to be thrown intoView during the operation of the machine.

20. In a cash register, the combination of a series of keys, a series ofindicating devices adapted to be operated by the said keys, a

cash drawer, a lock to lock the said cash drawer, and a series ofindependent hand operated lock releasing devices the movement of whichis controlled by the said keys to release the drawer.

21. In a cash register, the combination of a cash drawer, a lock to lockthe said cash drawer, a series of independent hand operated lockreleasing devices the movement of which is controlled by the said keysto release the drawer, and registering devices controlled by theoperation of the keys for registering the amount of the sales indicated.

22. In a cash register, the combination of lock the cash drawercontrolled by the second set of keys whereby any one of the second setof keys could be operated to release the cash drawer only when thecorresponding key of the first set has been moved.

23. In a cash register, the combination of two sets of keys pivoted intwo rows and pointing in opposite directions and having their adjacentends brought into line so that 1 any keys of'one set cannot be operateduntil the corresponding keys of the other set have been moved.

24. In a cash register, the combination of -two sets of keys pivoted intwo rows and pointing in opposite directions and having their adjacentends brought into line so that any key of one set cannot be operateduntil the corresponding key of the other set has been moved, andindicating mechanism 'controlled by the movement of said keys to make anindication corresponding to the denomination of the key moved.

25. In a cash register, the combination of two sets of keys pivoted intwo rows and pointing in opposite directions and having their adjacentends brought into line so that any key of one set cannot be operateduntil the corresponding key of the other set has been moved, indicatingmechanism controlled by the movement of said keys to make an indicationcorresponding to the denomination of the key moved, a cash drawer, and alock for said cash drawer controlled by the movement of said keys.

26. In a cash register, the combination of a series of straight leverkeys combined with a series of bell crank shaped pivoted keys pointingin the opposite direction and having their rear ends brought into linewith the rear ends of the first mentioned straight lever pivoted Intestimony of which invention I have here unto set my han d.

R. M. HUNTER. Witnesses:

ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER, HELEN L. MOTHERWELL.

